The Frames

The Frames sound like the exact moment a quiet conversation turns into a desperate shout. Their music is built on a foundation of Irish folk-storytelling but amplified through the lens of 90s alternative rock, creating a sound that is both intimate and massive. You can hear the years Glen Hansard spent busking on Grafton Street in the way his voice cracks under pressure, moving from a gentle, breathy murmur to a soul-baring roar within a single verse.

What truly distinguishes them is the interplay between the gritty electric guitars and Colm Mac Con Iomaire’s violin. Instead of being a background texture, the violin acts as a second lead vocalist, weaving mournful, melodic lines through the distortion. Their songs often follow a slow-burn trajectory, starting with a simple acoustic motif before layering drums and feedback into a towering, emotional crescendo that feels earned rather than manufactured.

Start with 'Burn the Maps' for their most polished and cohesive studio statement, or 'For the Birds' if you prefer a more atmospheric, Steve Albini-produced edge. If you want to understand why they are a legendary live act, 'Fitzcarraldo' captures the raw hunger of their early years. It is music for the bruised but hopeful, best served loud on a rainy night.